Chemotherapy dose standardisation

Sciensus has been reviewing its cancer service processes to identify areas of improvement in patient safetywe are moving to chemotherapy dose standardisation for a selected number of compounded chemotherapy medicines., communication, and quality. As part of this change to drive elements of improvement, 

Historically, intravenous chemotherapy doses have been calculated for individual patients based on weight or body surface area (BSA). A dose banding approach will be implemented where calculated doses are grouped and rounded to a set of discrete dose bands.

There is clinical consensus that this approach does not affect chemotherapy efficacy, toxicity or clinical outcomes for patients. This initiative is anticipated to deliver a range of benefits in efficiency, including the availability of ready-made doses, reduction of waste, less variation and improved process and procurement efficiency.

This change is an initiative that NICE and NHS England have collaborated on through the Chemotherapy Dose Standardisation initiative, which has been developed by the Medicines Optimisation and Chemotherapy Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs).

This change will take effect from 16 of September onwards starting with Bevacizumab products and will be implemented via the iQemo prescribing portal, so there is no change to the current process. You will notice that the dose band for the patient will appear once you enter the appropriate patient details.

We will provide updates on further product dose band changes in due course. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Consultant Engagement Director.